By Vanessa Elias

Read Time: 5 minutes

How to Get Kids Out and About in Your Town

How to create a Let Grow Community I live in one of the few towns in America determined to give kids a normal, old-fashioned, go-outside-and-play childhood. It’s not that we...
By Lenore Skenazy

Read Time: 2 minutes

Thought of the Day (About 12-Year-Olds)

Today's mini-post comes to us from a mom named Margaret, in Annapolis, MD. She notes that her location is relevant, as it’s the home of the Naval Academy. She first heard...
By Lenore Skenazy

Read Time: 3 minutes

Lifelong Lessons from an Overnight at the L.A. Airport, Alone, at Age 13

Enjoy this childhood story from Let Grow supporter Robin J. Phillips , who remains pretty proud of her resourceful 13-year-old self (pictured). Robin says confidence is a muscle – it...
By Let Grow

Read Time: 3 minutes

“A Miracle!” 6-Year-Old Walks Home from School by Self

First off, up: Something got screwed up at the Holy Child School in Calgary last week. A coughing first grader was told by his teacher that, thanks to his Covid...
By Let Grow

Read Time: 2 minutes

Are Kids on Bikes Happier Than Kids in Cars?

A dad makes the case for more two-wheeled independence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul_xzyCDT98 What a powerful video. It makes painfully clear the contrast between kid-filled streets in The Netherlands and the empty streets...
By Let Grow

Read Time: 4 minutes

What CAN’T Kids Do??? The 2021 LET GROW INDEPENDENCE CHALLENGE WINNERS

Ladies and gentlemen -- these are the kids who MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! Check out this inspiring video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJeuVMKp-ok Let Grow's Second Annual Independence Challenge asked for photos and videos of...
By Let Grow

Read Time: 3 minutes

Childhood Independence Could be THE KEY to Healthy, Happy Kids Says “The Guardian”

Overprotecting has gone overboard. Children can't build confidence if we never let them out of our sight. Trusting kids with some independence to get around, deal with minor risks, and...
By Let Grow

Read Time: 1 minute

Luke Weber Got Cancer at Age 3. Now 19, He Sees the Perils of Overprotection

Luke Weber is a 19-year-old New Yorker about to start Rice University. He contacted Let Grow when he heard about our mission -- promoting childhood independence. You might think that...
By Let Grow

Read Time: 3 minutes

How to nurture kids’ curiosity

Recently, a journalist asked Let Grow: How can we foster our children's desire to learn things on their own -- not just for a class? Our response: School as we...
By Kate Sundquist

Read Time: 5 minutes

What Is Unstructured Play?

The best parenting advice I ever received came from a mom whose son went to toddler music class with mine. She had tried to replace the drumstick he was gnawing...